Omar Salgado

A dangerous striker who scored on his debut with the United States U-20 national team as a 16-year-old, Generation adidas signing Omar Eduardo Salgado joined Whitecaps FC after being selected first overall in the 2011 MLS SuperDraft in Baltimore, Maryland. A tall forward with great potential, the native of El Paso, Texas, had previously trained with Vancouver's USSF D-2 Pro League squad in Aug. 2010.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER

2013: The young winger has not yet dressed in the MLS regular season due to a right foot fracture. 2012: Salgado was #23 in MLSsoccer.com’s '24 Under 24' list for the season on Sept. 10. He assisted on Eric Hassli’s first goal of the season during the first leg of Whitecaps FC’s Amway Canadian Championship semifinal, as Vancouver won 2-0 at North American Soccer League side FC Edmonton on May 2. He also assisted on Alain Rochat’s first goal of the season during a 2-2 home draw with Pacific Northwest rivals Seattle Sounders FC on May 19. After suffering a broken foot with the United States U-20 national team on June 6, Salgado had to wait more than five months before his next MLS appearance. On Oct. 21, he was a late substitute in Whitecaps FC's 1-0 home defeat to Portland Timbers. Highly involved in club and community initiatives off the pitch during the season, Salgado was named Whitecaps FC’s Humanitarian of the Year. 2011: Salgado was selected first overall in the MLS SuperDraft by Whitecaps FC on Jan. 13. Despite being a foreign national under 18 years of age, the striker was made available for selection by Whitecaps FC after FIFA, the Canadian Soccer Association, and the United States Soccer Federation approved Salgado's International Transfer Certificate on Mar. 25. Salgado started five of his 14 appearances during his rookie season in MLS, with his league debut coming as a late substitute in Whitecaps FC's 3-1 defeat at Houston Dynamo on Apr. 10, as he replaced goalscorer Camilo in Vancouver's attack. The striker then made his first start and scored his first goal in MLS during Whitecaps FC's 2-1 defeat at Columbus Crew on Apr. 30. He then assisted on Nizar Khalfan's first goal in MLS during Whitecaps FC's 3-0 home win over Real Salt Lake on Oct. 6. The striker also made two appearances in the Nutrilite Canadian Championship that season. This include a start in the semifinal, second leg, versus North American Soccer League side Montreal Impact on May 4 and a late substitute appearance in the final, first leg, versus MLS rivals Toronto FC on May 18. Following his rookie MLS season, Salgado joined the league’s ‘Generation adidas’ tour of the Netherlands in December of that year. This included three friendly matches versus Dutch opposition, with the striker appearing as a substitute in a 4-2 defeat to Ajax reserves on Dec. 8. Salgado then started and scored in the Generation adidas side’s 3-2 win over Dutch Eerste Divisie (second division) outfit FC Volendam on Dec. 13. The next day, the striker played the first half of Generation adidas’ 2-0 defeat to Dutch Eerste Divisie club Almere City FC on Dec. 14. 2010: After leaving Mexican giants Club Deportivo Guadalajara in order to accept a call-up with the United States U-20 squad, Salgado opted to sign with MLS as a member of the 'Generation adidas' player development program on July 26. On Nov. 8, the striker trained with D.C. United.

MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER RESERVE LEAGUE

2012: Salgado set up Carlyle Mitchell’s late equalizer in Whitecaps FC reserves’ season opener, as they drew 1-1 at home to Seattle Sounders FC reserves on Mar. 26. The striker then set up Atiba Harris’ winning goal during Whitecaps FC reserves’ 2-1 victory at San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Apr. 8. Following his recovery from a broken foot, Salgado made his first start in a Whitecaps FC uniform in over four months on Oct. 12, as the ‘Caps reserves fell 6-0 at LA Galaxy reserves. 2011: Salgado appeared in all but two of Whitecaps FC reserves’ matches that season. The striker scored on his debut in the MLS Reserve League, as Salgado earned Whitecaps FC reserves a 1-1 home draw with Chivas USA reserves on Apr. 17. Salgado also scored a consolation goal in Whitecaps FC reserves' 2-1 away defeat to LA Galaxy reserves on June 20. He then assisted on Michael Nanchoff's goal, as Whitecaps FC reserves claimed a 2-1 home win over Seattle Sounders FC reserves on Aug. 9. The result at Swangard Stadium was Vancouver's first-ever win in the Reserve League. Salgado scored the second goal during a 3-2 away defeat to Portland Timbers reserves on Aug. 21 before striking the winning goal in a 1-0 home win over San Jose Earthquakes reserves on Sept. 6.

ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE

2011-12: From Nov. 17 to Dec. 4, 2011, the striker had a training stint with English Premier League side Fulham FC. 2010-11: From Sept. 27 to Oct. 8, 2010, Salgado trained with English Premier League side Everton FC.

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION DIVISION-2 PROFESSIONAL LEAGUE

2010: Though he initially joined Whitecaps FC on a three-month loan from MLS on Aug. 10, Salgado was unable to complete his loan deal with Vancouver after MLS was unable to complete his registration in time. After training for five days with Whitecaps FC, Salgado returned to the United States. Later that month, Salgado had a short training spell with Vancouver's 2011 MLS expansion cousins Portland Timbers.

MEXICAN PRIMERA DIVISION

2009-10: As a 15-year-old, Salgado left his hometown of El Paso, Texas, to join Mexican giants Club Deportivo Guadalajara - better known as Chivas (Goats) - in Jan. 2009. As a member of the Chivas reserves, the striker scored seven goals in 10 appearances. He also spent time with the club's U-17 squad, where in Jan. 2010, Salgado was named Player of the Tournament in South America's U-17 Copa Libertadores competition. In June 2010, the striker then ended his time with Chivas after accepting a call-up to the USA U-20 national team. The striker's decision to play for the United States put him at odds with Chivas' policy of using players that are only eligible to represent Mexico.

INTERNATIONAL

U-23: In Nov. 2011, Salgado attended a two-week training camp with the United States U-23 Olympic team in Duisburg, Germany. During that camp, Salgado for started the American U-23’s in a 0-0 draw versus an Azerbaijan U-21 side on Nov. 11, 2011. U-20: After training and travelling with the Mexican U-20 side in March and April of 2010, Salgado opted to represent the United States U-20 national team at the 2010 Milk Cup international youth tournament in Northern Ireland. As a 16-year-old, Salgado appeared in all three of the USA's matches, as the American U-20 squad claimed The Elite Group championship title. On Jul. 26, 2010, Salgado scored his first international goal in his USA U-20 debut, as they defeated China 1-0 in their tournament opener. Salgado was then selected in head coach Thomas Rongen's 20-player squad for the 2011 CONCACAF U-20 Championship in Guatemala. With the USA playing Group B, Salgado made substitute appearances in a 4-0 win over Suriname on Mar. 29 and a 2-0 win over Panama on Apr. 2. The striker also appeared as a late substitute in the USA's 2-1 quarterfinal defeat to hosts Guatemala on Apr. 6. That defeat ended the USA's hopes of qualifying for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia. In Jan. 2012, Salgado was called up by USA U-20 head coach Tab Ramos for a week-long training camp in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, before appearing at a 10-day camp with the American U-20 squad in Clermont, Florida, in late Feb. 2012. U-18: After playing in the 2010 Milk Cup with USA U-20's, Salgado returned to Northern Ireland to play for the American U-18 squad in The Elite Group of the 2011 Milk Cup, where they finished in third in the tournament. U-17: In the fall of 2008, Salgado spent four months with USA U-17 Residency Program in Bradenton, Florida.

HIGH SCHOOL/AMATEUR

From 2004 to 2008, Salgado was a member of the Texas Fire Soccer Club in his hometown of El Paso, Texas. As a student, Salgado attended St. Joseph School in El Paso, Texas, before attending El Paso's Cathedral High School from August to September 2008. In the fall of 2008, Salgado moved to Bradenton Preparatory Academy in Bradenton, Florida, as a member of the USA U-17 Residency Program.

PERSONAL

Born and raised in El Paso, Texas, Salgado is a dual American and Mexican citizen. The striker was born to an American mother named Annalu and a Mexican father with Spanish heritage named Eduardo. He has two younger siblings named Natalia and Dante.

INTERESTING FACTS

Salgado is a fan of Spanish and European giants Real Madrid, while his favourite player is Barcelona and Argentina striker Lionel Messi. When not concentrating on his soccer career, Salgado enjoys watching movies.